Boca`s Former Mayors Given Special Thanks

Pinned ... Boca Raton officials honored their former mayors in a special celebration at City Hall on Tuesday night.

Mayor Bill Smith, who proclaimed April 27 ``Former Mayors Day`` in the city, gave specially made gold-plated pins to the five former mayors.

``It doesn`t seem like it`s been 33 years since I came here Tuesday nights,`` said Courtney Boone, who was the mayor in 1960. ``It`s not possible that that much time has transpired.``

Also at the ceremony were: Leo J. Fox, mayor in 1961; Byrd Marshall, mayor in 1972, 1975 and 1978; Alan Alford, mayor in 1973; and Dorothy Wilken, mayor in 1976 and 1977.

``We just want to thank you all for all the work you have put in,`` Smith said. ``You`ve created a wonderful foundation for folks like me.``

-- Double-duty security officers ... When it comes to Palm Beach County budget cuts, county security officers are against them. Any of them. They have the signs to prove it.

When they arrived at Tuesday`s County Commission meeting to protest a plan that would have cost them their jobs, about 15 officers waved signs proclaiming ``Keep Experience`` and ``Don`t Risk Safety.``

After commissioners said they weren`t interested in hiring a private company to take over their jobs and told the officers they could leave, the officers stayed.

In near-unison, the officers flipped over their signs. ``We Care About Animals`` and ``If You Were An Animal How Would You Vote? No!`` became the officers new cause.

For the record, the officers might have wanted to quit while ahead. While they saved their jobs, the commission approved deep cuts in the county`s Animal Care & Control Department.

-- A gun toting commissioner ... Highland Beach residents who tuned to the local cable channel for their monthly Town Commission meeting got a healthy dose of humor this week along with the more mundane business of municipal government.

Commissioner John Rand drew some chuckles when he teased fellow Commissioner Arthur Eypel for appearing on a list of Palm Beach County residents who have permits to carry concealed weapons. Eypel, however, said he does not carry a weapon even though he has the license.

``Perhaps we should consider installing metal detectors at the entrance to the commission chambers,`` Rand said, adding that he would not want to face the barrel of a gun for disagreeing with Eypel.

``I`m only saying this in jest, Arthur,`` Rand quickly added, ``so please put your gun back in its holster.``

At another point in the meeting, Eypel reported on his efforts to get better equipment for televising meetings. The picture often is too dark, making it difficult for viewers to see what is happening.

``I`ve talked to people who ask, `Who are those people up there?``` Eypel told commissioners.

Viewers still may have been confused about who was talking. The camera was on Town Manager Mary Ann Mariano the whole time.

-- Recruiting by hi-tech ... Not only is Boynton Beach Police Chief Thomas Dettman trying to recruit more blacks, he also is saving the city money in his efforts.

Dettman and two of his officers recently traveled to a police academy in Brevard County to scout recruits.

Instead of traveling the usual route on Interstate 95, these officers traveled in style -- by air.

The team flew in Police Lt. Steve Grenier`s Cessna airplane, which took them 45 minutes rather than the four or more hours it would take by road.

The last time city officials went on a similar recruiting trip, it cost the city the bare minimum -- about $150 -- for hotel and gas.

Dettman and his team gave a one-hour presentation and were back in Boynton Beach in 49 minutes.

This effort resulted in savings of hotel and mileage to the city. Dettman hopes Grenier will be reimbursed $100 for gas.